7 child-friendly houseplants
Greenery is one of the best ways to brighten a home. Potted plants, big or small, are bound to bring joy, especially when you know they’re non-toxic. For homes with pets or children, this is more than just a preference; it's a necessity.
Curious hands and mouths have been known to prod at plants, so shoppers need to know exactly what species are safe for their homes. Luckily, Whitaker’s top seven child-friendly houseplants are classified as ‘non-toxic’, so they’re perfectly fine for children and pets.
If you’re on the hunt for new foliage, be sure to take our top picks into consideration! (While you’re here, be sure to check out our garden shop. We stock a wide range of soil and compost, as well as a variety of gardening tools and plant food).
1. Spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum (also known as the ‘spider’ plant) is a common sight around homes and offices in the UK. They typically have slim, green and cream blades that arch from the centre and spill over pots.
A mature clump can stand about 30–60 cm high, but it can also send out trailing stems that can hang well beyond half a metre and carry tiny white, star‑shaped blooms.
When those flowers drop, each stem produces a mini plant that really does look like a spider! As the whole plant is classified as non‑toxic, parents needn’t worry if children (or the family dog) ingest it.
2. Parlour palm
One of the most sophisticated child-friendly houseplants is the parlour palm (chamaedorea elegans).
Native to the rainforests of Mexico and Guatemala, it forms tight clumps of slender green canes topped with soft, feather‑like fronds made up of narrow leaflets.
Every part of this palm is officially classed as non‑toxic, so a chewed leaflet won’t lead to a hospital trip. Indoors, these fronds (the parlour’s palm leaves) can grow from 60–180cm in height, though older, well-kept plants can exceed 1.8m!
The parlour palm tolerates the subdued sunlight typical of many UK homes and needs only a light drink when the top of the compost dries.
3. Snake plant
The snake plant (often called dracaena trifasciata) has upright, sword-like leaves banded in grey-green stripes. They can rise 70–100 cm in most UK homes, while wild plants in West Africa can top 2 metres!
For busy households, this plant is a gift: it tolerates the dry, centrally‑heated air of a British living room and survives just as well in bright sun as the gloom of a north‑facing landing, needing water only when the compost is fully dry.
While generally safe for children, the sap of a snake plant leaf contains saponins that can be mildly toxic to a pet's stomach if large pieces are swallowed.
Its bitter taste and tough texture would make chewing an unpleasant experience, but even so, we recommend keeping pots where toddlers and pets cannot tug at the foliage.
4. Prayer plant
The prayer plant (maranta leuconeura) forms a neat mound of broad, oval leaves patterned with lime‑green blotches and crimson midribs.
Most pots stay between 15 and 30 cm tall and wide, so the plant can sit tidily on a shelf, windowsill or desk without feeling overcrowded. During darkness, the prayer plant’s foliage folds upwards, a nightly display known as nyctinasty.
Parents can relax because the species is officially listed as non-toxic, meaning ingestion is unlikely to cause more than a brief tummy ache.
The prayer plant is happy in the gentle, indirect light typical of British living rooms and bathrooms, and it appreciates the extra humidity created by showers or a simple pebble tray.
5. Radiator plant
The radiator plant (peperomia spp., often sold in the UK as p. obtusifolia, p. argyreia or p. caperata) is massively variable: ridged emerald hearts, silver‑striped ‘watermelon’ ovals and glossy discs all appear on plants that rarely rise above 30 cm.
The plant has semi‑succulent leaves that act as tiny water tanks, so all you need to do is water when the top centimetre of compost dries: another low-maintenance plant for busy homes!
Although the nickname suggests a prime position in the home, experts suggest keeping the pot a little away from a hot radiator: warm airflow is welcome, but bone‑dry compost is not.
Many Peperomia species are listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and children, likely only to cause mild stomach upset after a large bite.
6. Banana plant
The dwarf banana (musa acuminata ‘dwarf cavendish’) is one of the largest‑leaf houseplants most UK homes can accommodate.
A dwarf Cavendish kept in a bright conservatory specimen can top out around 1.5 m – big enough to feel tropical without blocking the curtains. Each new leaf unfurls from the soft green pseudostem like a giant paddle
All parts of the plant are recorded as non‑toxic to people, cats and dogs, so you can keep this gorgeous green giant in your home without worry.
7. Venus flytrap
Last but not least, the Venus flytrap (dionaea muscipula) is one of the most iconic child-friendly houseplants around. Often no wider than a saucer, its bright‑green leaves end in hinged traps edged with fine ‘teeth’ and a blush pink interior.
The jaws are too gentle to pinch the skin, with the leaf only shutting after two of the sensitive hairs are stroked within twenty seconds. While you may want to poke a finger in to see the reaction, we recommend waiting for the real thing.
Poking the plant for a reaction wastes its reserves and should be avoided for the plant’s sake, not yours. The species is officially listed as non‑toxic to dogs, cats and people, so pop one on your window ledge and watch as it finishes off bluebottles!
Shop for gardening supplies with Whitaker’s Garden Centre!
Truthfully, choosing the right child-friendly houseplants is only half the fun! Bringing your new addition home and making sure it thrives is where we come in. At Whitaker's Garden Centre, we’re overflowing with specialist feeds, misters and peat‑free potting mixes.
Get yours today, and keep every new leaf looking its best.
- Daniel Corlett